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WISCONSIN
HISTORICAL
SOCIETY
An Oral History Interview with
DAVID OBEY
Interviewer: Anita Hecht, Life History Services
Recording Date: June 8,2011
Place: Arlington, Virginia. Length: 2.25 hours
David Obey was born in 1938 and raised in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, and Wausau, Wisconsin. While
studying at University of Wisconsin in the late 1950s he became active in Democrat Party politics. He
graduated in 1960 with aB.A. in political science.
After graduation, Obey received a Fellowship under the National Defense Education Act for graduate
level work in Soviet Affairs. From 1963 to 1969, Obey sewed in the Wisconsin State Assembly, where he
was elected assistant minority leader in 1967 and 1969.
In April 1969, when he was just 30, Obey was elected to Congress. He represented the 7th Congressional
District for 21 consecutive terms, from 1969 to 2011. His district included much of the northwestern
portion of Wisconsin, including the cities of Wausau and Superior. Starting in 1969, he served on the
House Appropriations Committee, chairing it in 1994-1995 and from 2007-2011. Both Sen. Gaylord
Nelson and William Proxmire participated in his campaigns.
As legislators controlling committees responsible for budgets and fiscal issues, Obey and Sen. Proxmire
worked closely in Congress and focuses on many of the same matters. They also served together on the
Joint Economic Committee.
David Obey Interview Transcript
Proxmire Oral History Project

David Obey was born in 1938 and raised in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, and Wausau, Wisconsin. While studying at University of Wisconsin in the late 1950s he became active in Democrat Party politics. He graduated in 1960 with a BA in political science. After graduation, Obey received a Fellowship under the National Defense Education Act for graduate level work in Soviet Affairs. From 1963 to 1969, Obey served in the Wisconsin State Assembly, where he was elected assistant minority leader in 1967 and 1969. In April 1969, when he was just 30, Obey was elected to Congress. He represented the 7th Congressional District for 21 consecutive terms, from 1969 to 2011. His district included much of the northwestern portion of Wisconsin, including the cities of Wausau and Superior. Starting in 1969, he served on the House Appropriations Committee, chairing it in 1994-1995 and from 2007-2011. Both Sen. Gaylord Nelson and William Proxmire participated in his campaigns. As legislators controlling committees responsible for budgets and fiscal issues, Obey and Sen. Proxmire worked closely in Congress and focused on many of the same matters. They also served together on the Joint Economic Committee.

WISCONSIN
HISTORICAL
SOCIETY
An Oral History Interview with
DAVID OBEY
Interviewer: Anita Hecht, Life History Services
Recording Date: June 8,2011
Place: Arlington, Virginia. Length: 2.25 hours
David Obey was born in 1938 and raised in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, and Wausau, Wisconsin. While
studying at University of Wisconsin in the late 1950s he became active in Democrat Party politics. He
graduated in 1960 with aB.A. in political science.
After graduation, Obey received a Fellowship under the National Defense Education Act for graduate
level work in Soviet Affairs. From 1963 to 1969, Obey sewed in the Wisconsin State Assembly, where he
was elected assistant minority leader in 1967 and 1969.
In April 1969, when he was just 30, Obey was elected to Congress. He represented the 7th Congressional
District for 21 consecutive terms, from 1969 to 2011. His district included much of the northwestern
portion of Wisconsin, including the cities of Wausau and Superior. Starting in 1969, he served on the
House Appropriations Committee, chairing it in 1994-1995 and from 2007-2011. Both Sen. Gaylord
Nelson and William Proxmire participated in his campaigns.
As legislators controlling committees responsible for budgets and fiscal issues, Obey and Sen. Proxmire
worked closely in Congress and focuses on many of the same matters. They also served together on the
Joint Economic Committee.
David Obey Interview Transcript
Proxmire Oral History Project